06/05/2021 (Agence Europe) – EU leaders will discuss Russia on the evening of Friday 7 May at an informal dinner in Oporto, ahead of the European Council meeting on the subject on 25 May. According to a senior EU official, the leaders are expected to discuss recent developments in the Czech Republic regarding allegations of the responsibility of Russian intelligence for a depot explosion in 2014 (see EUROPE 12704/22). According to another EU source, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš would like to talk about the lack of European solidarity during the “diplomat crisis” when the Czech Republic and Russia each expelled diplomats from the other country. The ban on entry to Russia imposed on eight European officials, including European Parliament President David Sassoli and European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, is also expected to be discussed (see EUROPE 12711/10). (CG)